pocahontas paragould the river’s edge
TRANSCRIPT
River’s Edge
Black River Technical College
January 18, 2013
BRTC Announces New Staff
and Position Change 2
Haskins Earns Bachelor’s
Degree 2
Skaggs Awarded Distin-
guished Alumnus Honor at
ASU
2
Film Preview to Highlight
Special Observance 3
TOP Developed to Assist
Students in Transition to
College
3
From the President’s Desk 4
Inside this issue:
Pocahontas ▪ Paragould
The
Important Dates
January 21
Martin Luther King
Day—No Classes;
Admin. Offices Open
January 22-23
PTK Blood Drive
February 12
LETA Blood Drive
February 25
Ain’t I a Woman!
Performance
March 9
BRTC Foundation Gala
REACH Sites Open
March 12
Advisory Dinner
March 18-22
Spring Break
The 7th Annual BRTC
Foundation Gala will be
held this year at Rolling
Hills Country Club. In
addition to the change of
venue, according to Ann
Savage, Director of Mar-
keting and PR and this
year’s Gala Chair, the
March 9 event will take
place on a Saturday even-
ing instead of the usual
weekday evening. “We
hope to make the event even
more special and exciting,
and the Gala Committee thinks these and other changes
may add to the fun and create a less formal atmosphere,”
Savage said. However, she added, the changes do not
mean the event will shed its “elegance” impact, she added.
Volume 11, Issue 1
tionally
since 1995.
This
production
is funded
in part by
the BRTC
Foundation
SEAS
project, the
Eddie Mae
Herron
Center,
Dean and
Brenda
Gillogly,
and Scott
and Joniece Trammel.
Admission for the event will be $5 for adults and $3
for students of any age. Admission is free for children
age six and under.
For more information on Ain’t I a Woman!, contact
Dina Hufstedler at 870-248-4000, ext. 4187.
BRTC Gala to be Held at Rolling Hills
Ain’t I a Woman! Scheduled for February 25 Black River Technical College in collaboration with
the Eddie Mae Herron Center will present Ain’t I a Wom-
an! Monday, February 25, 7:00 p.m., in the Randolph
County Development Center in Pocahontas.
Ain’t I a Woman! combines vocal and chamber music
to celebrate the life and times of four powerful African
American Women: Zora Neale Hurston (novelist and
anthropologist), Sojourner Truth (ex-slave and abolition-
ist), Clementine Hunter (folk artist), and Fannie Lou
Hamer (civil rights worker).
The production is the work of Core Ensemble based in
Florida and will feature Shinnerrie Jackson playing
Hurston, Truth, Hunter and Hamer while interacting with
a musical trio of cello, piano and percussion.
The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals
and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz
Age, and contemporary concert music by African Ameri-
can composers such as Charles Mingus, Max Roach,
Thelonius Monk, and Diane Monroe.
Core Ensemble, established in 1993, has produced a
series of chamber music theatre works that combine music
with other performance elements such as narrative and
dance. The group has performed nationally and interna-
“This event is one of the
BRTC Foundation’s major
fundraising opportunities to
generate funds for scholar-
ships, as well as other needs
of the college,” said Sav-
age. “The event will still
include a dinner, as well as
a live and silent auction.”
“Tickets for the event
remain at $125 per couple,”
Savage added. “Seating is
limited so individuals are
encouraged to purchase
tickets early.” Tickets may
be purchased by contacting any BRTC Foundation Board
member or calling Vickie French at (870) 248-4070 or
Ann Savage at (870) 248-4025.
Foundation Gala committee members Vickie French (from left),
Ann Savage, Sharon Watson, and Ruth Ann Ellis are prepar-
ing for the Annual Foundation Gala to be held at Rolling Hills
Country Club.
Page 2 River ’s Edge Volume 11, I ssue 1
Ashley
Conrey has
been hired
as Admin-
istrative
Specialist I
in the
Department
of Student
Services,
according
to Vice President Dr. Mike Sullens. She previously
worked at Riverside Express as an Assistant Man-
ager and for Custom Pak in Walnut Ridge. She has
15 years of customer service experience.
Conrey received an Associate of Arts degree in
2004 and a Certificate of Proficiency in Phleboto-
my in 2011, both from BRTC. In her spare time,
she teachers Yoga at Black River Health Club in
Pocahontas.
Kelsey Jones and Paige Newboles have been
hired as full time Nursing I Instructors for BRTC,
according to Angie Caldwell, Vice President of
Technical Education.
Jones has been working at BRTC since August
2011 teaching Medical Terminology and Math for
Nurses on
both the
Pocahontas
and Para-
gould cam-
puses. She
earned a
Bachelor of
Science in
nursing
degree in
2010 from
Arkansas State University, and previously worked
at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center in Jones-
boro as an Oncology RN. She lives in Walnut
Ridge and is a graduate of Hoxie High School.
Newboles comes to BRTC from NEA Baptist
Hospital where she has worked since 2010. She
Haskins Earns Bachelor’s Degree
earned her
RN certifi-
cation after
graduating
from Ar-
kansas
Northeast-
ern College
in Blythe-
ville with
her Associ-
ate degree in nursing. She earned her practical
nursing degree from Cotton Boll Technical Institute
and received EMT certification from Tulsa County
Area Vo-Tech.
Other work experience for Newboles includes
Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House of St. Bernard’s
Medical Center, Woodrow Wilson Elementary in
Paragould, Arkansas Methodist Medical Center,
Outpatient Surgery Center of Jonesboro, and NEA
Surgery Center. She and her husband, Buddy, live
in Paragould with their 14-year-old son.
Skaggs Receives Distinguished
Alumnus Honor at ASU
BRTC Announces New Staff and Position Change
Ashley Conrey
Audrey Skaggs, science instructor at BRTC, was awarded
“Distinguished Alumnus” for the Clinical Laboratory Science
department at Arkansas State University during a ceremony held
this past October. She was one of five distinguished alumni from
the College of Nursing and Health Professions at ASU honored
for their professional achievements in their specific department.
Skaggs was hired in August at BRTC to teach Anatomy and
Physiology, General Biology and Microbiology. She holds a
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Lab Sciences from ASU and
earned a Masters in Health Science Education from ASU in De-
cember, graduating with a 4.0. She was also inducted into the Phi
Kappa Phi Honor Society earlier in the year.
Skaggs grew up in Belgium then served in the U.S. Marine
Corps and participated in medical mission trips to South Ameri-
ca. Prior to joining BRTC she worked as a Med Tech for NEA
Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro and a technologist at
Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, in addition to serving
as adjunct professor of Clinical Laboratory Science at ASU. She
currently resides in Brookland with her husband, Perry, and four children.
Email [email protected] if you would like to
receive The River’s Edge by email rather than as a hard copy or if
your address has changed. New employees will receive an email
copy unless otherwise requested.
Kelsey Jones
Alan Haskins, Director of BRTC’s Fire Science
program, was awarded a Bachelor of Science in
Fire Science degree from Columbia Southern Uni-
versity. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in De-
cember.
A graduate of BRTC’s Fire Science program,
Haskins has been working in his current position at
BRTC since July 2010. He previously worked 17
years for the Walnut Ridge Fire Department serv-
ing the last three and a half as Fire Chief. He also
served on BRTC’s Fire Science Advisory Commit-
tee for 15 years and taught as an adjunct instructor.
Alan Haskins
Audrey Skaggs is pictured with her
Distinguished Alumnus award.
Paige Newboles
Volume 11, I ssue 1 River ’s Edge Page 3
BRTC will host a special event focusing on the
World War II Japanese American camps in south-
east Arkansas in recognition of ‘Fred Korematsu
Day’ on Wednesday, January 30. The event, which
is open to the public, will be held from 12:30 to 2
p.m. in the Community Conference Room of the
Gaines Technology Center.
Organized by Dr. Jan Ziegler and Dr. Charlotte
Power, the observance will feature a special film
screening preview of “Relocation: Arkansas” and
will include a presentation by the filmmaker,
Vivienne Schiffer of Houston, Texas. Schiffer’s
mother, Rosalie Gould, is a former mayor of McGe-
hee, near the site of Rohwer Relocation Center in
Desha County. Gould is a longtime advocate and
activist in efforts to preserve the two Arkansas
camps. She is also known for her tireless efforts to
preserve and make available to visitors and re-
searchers a substantial collection of art and other
artifacts from the camps.
“I know many people are aware of the Japanese
American expulsion from the West Coast and their
imprisonment in ten ‘relocation centers,’ including
the two in Arkansas, in the wake of Pearl Harbor”
said Ziegler. “However, probably only a few peo-
ple know of the role played by Fred Korematsu,
who refused to go to the camps in violation of his
constitutional rights. His story is an amazing one,”
Ziegler added.
Korematsu’s case was appealed all the way to
the Supreme Court, and in 1944 the Court ruled
against him, arguing that the incarceration of Japa-
nese Americans was justified due to military neces-
sity. However, the case was re-opened some 40
years later after the discovery of key documents
showing that Japanese Americans had committed
no acts of treason to justify mass incarceration.
These documents had been concealed previously
from the Supreme Court. Korematsu’s conviction
was overturned in a federal court in 1983. This
overturn is considered a pivotal moment in civil
rights history, according to the Fred T. Korematsu
Institute for Civil Rights and Education.
He continued to work to educate people on the
importance of speaking up to fight injustice until
the time of his death in 2005. Korematsu was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then
-President Bill Clinton in 1998.
“We are looking forward very much to this
event,” said Power, BRTC History instructor. “It is
especially fitting for my Arkansas History students,
because there is this very important Arkansas con-
nection through the camps to this chapter of our
nation’s and our state’s history.”
Both Power and Ziegler give high praise to the
Film Preview to Highlight Special Observance
TOP Developed to Assist Students in Transition to College
preview
video, which
includes
footage of
Rohwer
Relocation
Center as it
exists today
and as it
existed when
it opened to
some 8,500
exiled Japa-
nese Ameri-
cans in 1942.
The preview
also includes
clips of for-
mer President Bill Clinton, Skip Rutherford of the
Clinton School, David Strickland, head of the But-
ler Center for Arkansas Studies which now houses
the Gould Collection from the camps, and shots of
many pieces of art and artifacts in the collection.
Especially poignant, Ziegler indicated, are inter-
views with former internees at the camps.
This is actually a short film previewing a much
more detailed documentary film currently under
production, according to Ziegler.
Fred Korematsu
(Photo by Shirley Nakao, courtesy of
the Korematsu Institute)
In the fall, BRTC’s Adult Education Depart-
ment implemented the Transition Opportunity
Program (TOP) - a newly developed program,
designed to make the transition for the incoming
college student as smooth as possible, according to
Peggy Weir, Director of Adult Education.
“Whether from high school or the workplace, or
any other place,” said Weir, “students will be able
to brush up on math, computer, writing and study
skills to help ease their transition into college.”
TOP was developed specifically with the newly
enrolling student in mind. “It is possible for an
individual who has taken the COMPASS and
scored into remedial coursework to retake the
COMPASS and test out of some of the remedial
work,” Weir explained. “The impact of this could
be significant because of the potential savings for
the student of both time and money.” The retest of
the COMPASS would have to be completed prior
to enrollment in college coursework.
Services from TOP are also available to current-
ly enrolled college students that would want to
improve their academic skills. A student in a sci-
ence, business or automotive technology class, for
example, could use the services of TOP to improve
writing skills for writing class papers. Or, the
student may need to sharpen math, reading or com-
puter skills to help with their coursework. Perhaps
the student just needs to work on study skills or
time management. TOP will work on any of these
with the student. Instructor Jean Wilson is coordi-
nating the efforts of the program.
“The Adult Education Department is conducting
the training and support, with structured classes for
computer literacy and basic math skills, on the
Pocahontas campus,” explained Regina Moore,
Director of Distance Education at BRTC who as-
sisted in the development of TOP. “Also offered,
essentially, is a walk-in clinic for students who
need help with any subject including time manage-
ment, study skills, and reading and writing skills.”
“Many industrial companies in our area have
closed, will be closing or have had significant
layoffs,” noted Moore. “Because of this, BRTC
has and is expecting
many students under
TAA (Trade Adjust-
ment Assistance)
who have had no
computer experience
or have been out of
school for many
years. Often these
students struggle and
require additional
support to help with
the transition to
college. We are
excited about this new program and hope to have
many students participate.”
For more information on TOP, contact Weir or
instructor Jean Wilson in the Adult Education
Department at 870-248-4130, or email Wilson at
Jean Wilson, Instructor
Dr. Wayne Hatcher
During spring inservice, Dennis Jones, President
of National Center for Higher Education Manage-
ment Systems and a nationally recognized consult-
ant/expert, gave us a presentation on why the Ar-
kansas higher education institutions must change if
we are to serve the state’s needs.
As evidence, he pointed to Arkansas’s ranking
of 2nd in the number of jobs that require only a
high school degree, to our state’s rank of 9th in high
school dropouts and 47th and 51st in the number of
jobs that require a bachelor or graduate degree.
That is NOT good news for our state’s future.
Statistics prove without a doubt that what Ar-
kansas is doing currently will neither meet the
national average nor will it attain the goals set by
the president and our governor to keep jobs and
businesses in Arkansas. Our failure as a state to be
willing to sacrifice to make necessary changes is
part of the problem.
Higher education as currently practiced by many
institutions is also part of the problem…but, pro-
vided we make significant changes, higher educa-
tion is also the primary player if Arkansas is to
succeed in the future.
What does this mean for Arkansas community
colleges? What changes will be necessary to en-
sure colleges can succeed in an environment where
such forces are at play? Jones stated, “Regardless
of specifics and motivation—the focus of accounta-
bility has shifted from access to success.” He went
on to explain changes in instruction that must oc-
cur, and noted that student services now play a
more critical role than ever.
Jones insisted a successful a community college
must be willing to break with certain traditions.
From the President’s Desk...
BRTC Mission Statement
Blending tradition, technology and innovation
to educate today’s diverse students
for tomorrow’s changing world.
On-Line River’s Edge Address:
http://www.blackrivertech.org/rivers_edge/
The River’s Edge is produced by the
Office of Development.
P.O. Box 468
1410 Hwy 304 East
Pocahontas, AR 72455
Phone: 870-248-4000
Fax: 870-248-4100
P.O. Box 1565
1 Black River Drive
Paragould, AR 72450
Phone: 870-239-0969
Fax: 870-239-2050
www.blackrivertech.edu
For example, the core functions need to be facilita-
tion of student learning and certification of that
learning—not the delivery of content. Curriculum
must be streamlined with fewer choices.
Competencies are the new focus. Courses are
directly linked to career pathways. Academic calen-
dars and schedules must be constructed to meet
student needs, including night and weekend op-
tions, allowing students to complete programs and
courses in less time than the current antiquated
model.
The heartening news is that many community
colleges have been doing these things for years if
not decades. This gives us good resources to utilize
as BRTC continues to move in this direction. Yes,
some BRTC faculty have been phasing in imple-
mentation of these concepts the last few years.
Others are ready to join in and help with the needed
acceleration of implementation.
Student Services is on the cusp on implementing
some major changes to expedite our effort to signif-
icantly enhance student success. We continue to
work hard to implement needed changes, because
our goal is to have each one of our graduates say
“Thanks to BRTC…I have work to do.”